Portland-area aid groups, including Mercy Corps and Medical Teams International, have battled dire conditions in Haiti, where the demand is big and the outlook dim.

There are many ways to contribute. The following groups have staff and volunteers on the ground.Medical Teams International accepts donations through its Web site, medicalteams.org.

Mercy Corps takes donations through its Web site at mercycorps.org or call 888-256-1900. World Vision, a Christian relief organization based in Federal Way, Wash., has a staff of more than 370 people in Haiti. The group, which works on development projects, is moving to emergency relief.

The group is asking for donations online at worldvision.org or call 866-280-6587.

World Concern, based in Seattle has more than 100 staff members in Haiti. Many of them are nationals involved in development work in the region.

To contribute, visit worldconcern.org or call 866-530-5433. Oregon Disaster Medical Teams, an all-volunteer group that has provided medical outreach in Haiti for 11 years, plans a trip in mid-February. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and paramedics from Oregon will help in rural areas and a clinic in the southwest of the country.

"We're committed to that area," said Dr. Helen Miller, a pediatrician who works with the group. To donate, send a check to 995 Willagillespie Road, Suite 200, Eugene, 97401. The group is at odmt.org and can be reached at info@odmt.org. Forward Edge International, a Vancouver-based Christian relief group, is sending an eight-member team to Haiti, including three nurses. The group, which has worked in Nicaragua, Kenya, Sri Lanka, and the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, takes up where other groups leave off.

“We really specialize in Phase 2 work,” said Joseph Anfuso, president. “After it’s out of the headlines, people are still trying to put their lives back together. It’s not sexy but the demand is huge.” To contribute, go to forwardedge.org.

Mangrove Fund, a Portland-based charity that works on development projects in Haiti, is raising money for relief projects through its Web site at mangrovefund.org to help an orphanage in Port-au-Prince that collapsed.

The group was started by a Portland couple, Bill and Mary Pierznik, who adopted their son Richelor in December 2008 from that orphanage. When Richelor, 4, heard that the kids were in trouble, he started a coin drive at his school, Class Academy, in Northwest Portland. The couple hopes to gather $100,000 for the orphanage.Partners in Health, a Boston-based group that's been working in Haiti for more than 20 years, is working with Mercy Corps on the ground. To donate, go to pih.org.

Catholic Relief Services is collecting money to help victims in Haiti. For more information, go to archdpdx.org. American Red Cross, which has pledged an initial $1 million toward the relief effort, is accepting donations via text message (text "Haiti" to 90999), on its Web site, redcross.org and via its hot line, 800-733-2767.

The text applies a $10 charge to the consumer's next phone bill. All funds go to support American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.

Physicians for Peace, which works with two groups in Haiti is soliciting donations for immediate trauma relief and long-term assistance for amputees. To donate go to physiciansforpeace.org.

Project Hope is providing medical and surgical care in Haiti through the hospital ship, USNS Comfort. Donate through projecthope.org.

Episcopal Relief & Development has provided emergency funding for its program partner, the Diocese of
Haiti, for food, water and shelter, and is ready to take part in rebuilding efforts. er-d.org.

Yele, an area relief organization founded by singer and producer Wyclef Jean, a Haitian native, is accepting $5 donations via text message (text "yele" to 501501).

UNICEF, which provides emergency food and health care to children, is accepting donations at unicefusa.org/haitiquake or over the phone at 800-367-5437.

World Food Program under the United Nations which started distributing food in Haiti plans to distribute emergency food assistance to 2 million people in the country over the next six months. To donate, go to wfp.org.

Doctors Without Borders, the French-based group that works worldwide, is accepting donations through its Web site, doctorswithoutborders.org.

CARE, which is sending extra emergency relief workers to Haiti, asks for contributions through care.org or by calling 800-521-2273. Habitat for Humanity is helping with relief and providing temporary shelter. Donate at habitat.org.

The Salvation Army is also organizing a relief effort in Haiti. To contribute, visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or call 800-725-2769.

For a complete list of groups with experience working in Haiti, check Charity Navigator's Web page here.

Visa, MasterCard and American Express have agreed to waive so called “swipe fees” on donations made to Haiti relief funds using credit cards.

The Oregon attorney general's office warning consumers about potential scams. Before donating, visit the state Department of Justice Web site at doj.state.or.us.